This information does not apply to IAP. Advisors are encouraged to discuss IAP plans with their advisees, but registration forms and add/drop forms are not used for IAP.
This information does not apply to first semester Freshmen who have their own registration arrangements.
Where does a student get their registration form and who needs to sign it?
How does a student drop a subject for which they pre-registered?
Where on the form does a student add classes?
Can a HASS-D class be added on this form?
If a student wishes to cross-register, can they add the class on this form?
Why are some of the classes listed on the form crossed out?
How does a student know if they got into a lotteried subject?
How do sophomores designate a subject using the exploratory option?
What does it mean to take a subject as a Listener?
Where should the registration form be handed in?
What should a student do if they wish to change one of their recitations?
The “Subject Messages” area was blank on the registration form, is something missing?
Is the class schedule available on-line?
If registration changes are made on the registration form, will the on-line schedule be updated?
What does the bold type in the schedule area of the form mean?
How does a student update their address information if it is wrong on the form?
What should a student do if they are on registration hold?
What should a student do if they plan to graduate this term?
What if a student needs more help?
1. Where does a student get their registration form and who needs to sign it?
Registration forms are printed by the Registrar’s Office and delivered to students’ departments shortly before registration day. Some departments then pass the forms on to advisors. So, depending on the arrangements made by particular departments, forms can be collected from either a student’s advisor/registration officer or the department’s academic administrator.
Both the student and the advisor/registration officer must sign the form. Forms received in the Registrar's Office which are missing one or both signatures will not be processed. The signed form represents the agreement between the student and the department regarding the student's program of study for the term and, in signing the form, the student is acknowledging responsibility for charges.
2. How does a student drop a subject for which they pre-registered?
The subjects that a student pre-registered for come pre-printed on the registration form. When a student meets with his/her advisor, prior to handing in the form, a line can be put through any of the pre-registered subjects which a student wishes to drop. When the registration form is processed by the Registrar’s Office, these subjects will be removed from a student’s registration.
3. Where on the form does a student add classes?
There is a space below the pre-printed subjects for which the student pre-registered. When meeting with their advisor on registration day, a student may write in the numbers of those subjects they wish to add in this space.
4. Can a HASS-D class be added on this form?
No, because a lottery is held for these classes based on pre-registration, they cannot be added by writing them on the registration form. If there is still space available in the class a student wishes to add, they should go to the first class meeting with an add/drop card. They should obtain the signatures of both the instructor and their advisor and then hand in the form to either the Registrar's Office (Room 5-119) or the Student Services Center (Room 11-120).
HASS-D classes written in on a registration form will not be added to a student's registration.
5. If a student wishes to cross-register, can they add the class on this form?
To cross-register for classes at Harvard University , the School of the Museum of Fine Arts or the Massachusetts College of Art, a special cross-registration form must be completed. These classes cannot be added by writing them on the registration form. Students seeking to cross-register for classes at Wellesley College may write these in on their registration form.
Undergraduates wishing to cross-register at Harvard should obtain the required form from the HASS Education Office in 14N-408. Graduates students wishing to cross-register at Harvard and undergraduate students wishing to cross-register at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts or the Massachusetts College of Art can obtain the necessary form from the Registrar's Office (Room 5-119) or the Student Services Center (Room 11-120).
6. Does a student need to specify the P/D/F option for a subject that is offered in the Catalogue as a P/D/F subject?
No, if a subject is listed in the Catalogue as P/D/F then there is no need to mark it as such on the registration form. This information is picked up automatically by the computer when registration is loaded. A student only need specify this information if they are a junior or senior who is using one of their junior/senior P/D/F options on a regularly graded subject. Please note that graduate students cannot elect to take a regularly graded subject P/D/F. Also, for juniors and seniors, registering for a subject designated as P/D/F in the Catalogue does not count as using one of the two P/D/F options.
7. Why are some of the classes listed on the form crossed out?
The crossed out classes mean a student either pre-registered for a class that is not offered this term or the class was initially offered but has now been cancelled by the department. The line is through them to indicate that they are not offered and will be dropped by the Registrar's Office.
8. How does a student know if they got into a lotteried subject?
If the student was successful in a lottery, the subject will be printed on the registration form (along with the other classes for which they pre-registered) and it will be included in the class schedule information. If the student was not successful, then the subject will not appear on the form.
9. How do sophomores designate a subject using the exploratory option?
To designate a subject as exploratory, a sophomore must use the special form that can be printed from WebSIS. The form requires the signature of the student's advisor. Two copies of the signed form should be made (one for the student and one for the advisor). The form should then be handed in at the Student Services Center (Room 11-120). Add Date is the deadline for designating a subject as exploratory.
10. What does it mean to take a subject as a Listener?
Taking a subject as a listener means just that. Students attend lectures and recitations but they are not required to take any exams, tests or quizzes. Nor are they required to turn in any other assignments. They do not receive a grade for the subject and the subject units do not count in any way towards a student's degree requirements. Subjects taken as a listener do not appear on the official transcript but will be reflected on the student's internal record with a notation of “LIS” to indicate the listener status.
11. Where should the registration form be handed in?
A specific registration location is set up for each registration day. For the Fall term, this is usually in the Johnson Ice Rink and for the Spring term in the Dupont Gymnasium. This location is staffed from 9am to 5pm and forms can be handed in there. If a student is not able to hand in their form on registration day, it can be returned to either the Registrar's Office (Room 5-119) or the Student Services Center (Room 11-120).
The Friday after registration day is the deadline for completed forms to be handed in. Any forms received after Friday will be subject to a $40 late registration fee.
12. What should a student do if they wish to change one of their recitations?
Students should do this through the department rather than the Registrar's Office. The departments control recitation assignments, so, if a student needs to switch, they can do it through the department. For subjects in the undergraduate science core, there are specific times and locations for making recitation changes . These are listed on WebSIS.
13. The “Subject Messages” area was blank on the registration form, is something missing?
No. The vast majority of subjects would have no applicable message so it is quite possible that the registration form could be blank in this area.
14. Is the class schedule available on-line?
Yes, if a student pre-registered, a class schedule based on that pre-registration will be available on WebSIS after pre-registration closes until 5pm on the Friday after registration day.
15. If registration changes are made on the registration form, will the on-line schedule be updated?
No, changes made on the registration form will not be reflected on the version of the schedule that appears on-line. This just reflects subjects that students pre-registered for and it is removed at the end of the week after registration day. If a student wishes to keep a copy, they should make sure they print it before it is removed.
16. What does the bold type in the schedule area of the form mean?
The bold type indicates that there is a conflict between at least two items on the schedule. Student should take advantage of the class schedule folders that will be available at the registration location on registration day to see if there are alternative lecture or recitation sections they can move into to resolve the conflict. Staff from the Registrar's Office will be available to assist with this.
17. The message area says there are outstanding incompletes/OXs but the work was finished. Who should the student speak to about clearing this up?
In the first instance, the student should contact the instructor. They should make sure that he/she has submitted the final grade to the Registrar's Office. The headquarters office of the department offering the class may be able to help with this. In addition, graduate students who received a grade of Incomplete, and initially registered for the class more than one term ago, will need to petition the Dean of Graduate Students for permission to have the final grade recorded on their academic record. The petition form that the student will need is available from either the Registrar's Office (Room 5-119) or the Student Services Center (Room 11-120). There is no need to petition to complete OXs no matter when the student originally registered for them.
18. How does a student update their address information if it is wrong on the form?
If address information needs to be updated this should be done on WebSIS.
19. What should a student do if they are on registration hold?
Any registration hold must be resolved before a student can register. The student should contact the office that placed the hold to find out what action is required on the student's part. If the student is not sure, the Registrar's Office can tell them which office has placed the hold on their record.
Once the hold has been cleared, the student should pick up their registration form from the front desk in the Student Services Center (Room 11-120). After they have seen their advisor and obtained the required signatures, the completed form should be returned to either the Registrar's Office (Room 5-119) or the Student Services Center.
20. What should a student do if they plan to graduate this term?
Complete instructions on what to do if a student plans to graduate (or are not sure but think they may be able to graduate) are available at the graduating students site.
21. What if a student needs more help?
Staff from the Registrar's Office are available to answer any questions. If a query relates to a student's academic record they should call 617 258-6409 or send e-mail to records@mit.edu . If the question relates to class schedules, the student should send e-mail to schedules@mit.edu .